Method of installing form ties

ABSTRACT

A method of installing form-tie rods in a pair of substantially aligned holes in an opposed pair of spaced-apart concrete forms is disclosed to comprise the steps of inserting and visually aligning a hollow or tubular member in said holes, then the step of withdrawing the tubular member from the holes in one direction or the other while the tubular member leads or guides a form-tie through the holes.

United States Patent [191 Buyken et al.

[ June 26, 1973 METHOD OF INSTALLING FORM-TIES [76] Inventors: Frank E. Buyken, 8620 Island Drive, Seattle, Wash. 981 18; Robert C. Foster, 403 Laurel Street, Elk Grove Village, Ill. 60007 [22] Filed: Mar. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 125,755

[52] US. Cl 291433, 29/241, 29/464, 249/216 [51] Int. Cl B23 19/04 [58] Field of Search 29/433, 241, 464, 29/452, 407; 249/216 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,705,375 4/1955 Foreman et al 29/464 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 530,224 12/1940 Great Britain 29/433 Primary Examiner-Charlie T. Moon Attorney-Ford E. Smith [5 7] ABSTRACT A method of installing form-tie rods in a pair of substantially aligned holes in an opposed pair of spacedapart concrete forms is disclosed to comprise the steps of inserting and visually aligning a hollow or tubular member in said holes, then the step of withdrawing the tubular member from the holes in one direction or the other while the tubular member leads or guides a formtie through the holes.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 METHOD OF INSTALLING FORMJ-IES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The installation of form-ties in substantiallyaligned holes in 'spaced-apart concrete form =panelspresents difficulties'to the workmen. Usually the tie,- generally called a pass-through tie, is inserted through one hole from the outside, then thesecond holeis locatedand the .tie aligned therewith, and thenit ispassd into and through the ."second hole. The pass-throughtiesblock vision through the first hole and-make difficult-location or sighting of the secondholexThe slender ties also-are not easily guided in the axis of the two holes. The operation requires much fishing and, hence; is sldw'an'd uneconomical. Such 1 installations become more difficult as the large panel sizes are encountered and-"more of the ties are to .be installed-remote from the panel edges beyond the reach of the workmen. The problems are further aggravated as constructiontechniques employing large form'panels being 'reset--'at-substantial heights so. as to require the form-ties to be I installed while the panels are suspended, =as from-a crane, and the installers, working at the outsid'es of the panels, are remote from each other; It is the primary object of this invention to provide a method of installing form=tiesin such manner that many of such difficulties are overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention an installer introduces "a straight tubular member into the outer end'ofthe first of a pair of substantially aligned 'holes'in a pair of forms. The member is open-endedandmay'be-sighted through. The installer sights at the opposite hole to center or align the tubular member. When the tube "is aligned he'inserts it into the'oppo'site hole. Thereupon another installermay'introduce a formtie from his'side of the second panel causing it'to be seated at the=end of the tube proximate to himfiHe then appliespressure on the form-tie causing the withdrawal of the tubular member and the leading of the form-tie across the space between the panels and accurate entry of itsleading end into the first hole. The tie is thereupon secured at its ends and the installers move onto the next site. Alternatively, the first workman introduces the tubular member as described. He then seats the tie rod in the rear end of the tube and presses tube and rod forward until the tie is positioned. In this case the second workman receives the tubular member and for'the next tie rod merely reverses the order.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate schematically steps of this method; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting the tie leading action of a tubular member in feeding or guiding tie rods into form panels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION locations over the surfaces of the form panels. The enlarged portion substantially fills a hole 34.

In the construction industry the use of the techniques of gang forming'has become popularand widespread on many types of concrete work where repeated use of preconstructed forms can be made. Gang forms are constructedin sizes such as 8' X 16', 12' X 20' and even larger. A template structure is built at ground level. Waler timbers are arranged parallel thereon on about 16 inch centers. Plywood panels are placed over the walers and securely nailed thereto. Then the panel assemblies are drilled along the center lines of the walers at, say, 24 inch center-to-center spaces along the walers. Ina form panel 16 X 16' there will be about 80 holes each of which is to have a form-tie passed through it. Even though some of the holes will be within arms-reach of the panel edges, a great many will be out of reach. 'As a practical matter the infeed of the tie rods is perforce from the outer face of one or the other of the paired and'spaced-apart panels. Usually the form panels are equipped with locking devices, one at the outer end "of each hole, to engage and secure an end of a form-tierod. The tie rod shown in the drawings is generally described as a pass-through tie in that it is capable of being inserted through one panel hole into the intervening space andthen through the other opposite panel hole whereupon its ends are engaged by such locks or clamps. It is to facilitate'this rod insertion that thepresent method has been invented.

A firstba'nk panel or wall section is positioned and braced where it is to be used. Then the second or opposite gang panel is erected and braced in facing, spacedapart relation to the first panel. At this stage the holes of the'twopanels will usually be aligned. Often, due to the vagaries of construction, some misalignment will occur. The constructors next must feed the tie rods through'the paired holes and secure or look their ends externally of the panels. In doing so reinforcingrods placed between the forms may obstruct the passage of the tie rods from hole to hole.

Employing the instant method of installing the formtie rods, an operator on one side of the opposed forms introduces a tubular member 50 through a first hole 34 until its inner end is in the space between the opposed form panels. Then, as suggested in FIG. 1, he will sight by eye through the open-ended member 50 and by a line of sight center the tube on the axis of the opposite and remote hole 34. He continues to advance member :50 inward and into the opposite hole. Thereupon his partner may feed or insert a form-tie 10 into the end of member 50 andpress tube 50 backward by applying infeeding pressure on the tie rod. This causes tube 50 to be withdrawn. As it withdraws tube 50 leads the tie rod first through one and then the other hole 34. Alternatively the first workman, when the tube 50 is in place, may insert a tie rod 10 in the following end of tube 50 and press it and the tie rod on through the'panels'. The other workman then merely reverses the procedure for the next tie. When the heads 24 of the tie rod are located slightly protruding from holes 34, a 'lock 54 (schematically shown) is operated to secure the rod in place.

It will be recognized that the use of tubular member 50 greatly simplifies the feeding of the tie rods through the paired holes. When a reinforcing bar or rod' is encountered, the tubular member 50 may be used to displace it, something not usually possible with a mere tie rod. Without it, one operator introduces the rod through the first hole and, working practically blind,-

has to feel for the second hole. He works blind because the cones l8 and washers 20 substantially fill and block sight through the hole 34. Because the shape of the cones and washers is non-cylindrical it is very difficult for the operator to keep the rod in the axis of the paired holes. By comparison, the tube 50 substantially matches the cross-section of holes 34. Hole 34 is long enough to keep tube 50 in line with the opposite hole. By being tubular and open-ended the operator can sigJt through the tube and quickly correct its course and. accurately direct it into the opposite hole.

The foregoing sets forth the preferred method of this invention. Variations within the scope of a reasonable application of the doctrine of equivalents are intended to be covered hereby.

What ll. claimed is: 1. The method of installing a form-tie in substantially holes from its outer end and passing the same across the spacebetween said forms;

sighting through said tubular member toward the inner end of the second of said holes and aligning the tubular member therewith;

inserting said tubular member into the second hole;

introducing a form-tie into an end of the tubular member; and

applying pressure on said form-tie to cause movement of said tubular member and the following of said form-tie across said space and into and through said holes.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the form-tie is inserted into the tubular member from a direction opposite the direction of insertion of the tubular member and the latter is withdrawn.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the form-tie is inserted into the tubular member in the same direction as aligned holes in faci g, s cedpa t f panels the tubular member was inserted and the latter is prising the steps of:

introducing a straight, open ended, internally unobstructed, tubular member through a first of said passed on through said holes leading the form-tie into place.

* i I i 

1. The method of installing a form-tie in substantially aligned holes in facing, spaced-apart form panels comprising the steps of: introducing a straight, open ended, internally unobstructed, tubular member through a first of said holes from its outer end and passing the same across the space between said forms; sighting through said tubular member toward the inner end of the second of said holes and aligning the tubular member therewith; inserting said tubular member into the second hole; introducing a form-tie into an end of the tubular member; and applying pressure on said form-tie to cause movement of said tubular member and the following of said form-tie across said space and into and through said holes.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the form-tie is inserted into the tubular member from a direction opposite the direction of insertion of the tubular member and the latter is withdrawn.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which the form-tie is inserted into the tubular member in the same direction as the tubular member was inserted and the latter is passed on through said holes leading the form-tie into place. 